Cartridge revolver safety device



June 29, 1965 A. KOLTUN CARTRIDGE REVOLVER SAFETY DEVICE Original Filed Sept. 25, 1961 ALEXANDER KOLTUN IN VEN TOR.

ATTORNEYS.

3,191,333 CARTRIDGE REVOLVER SAFETY DEVICE Alexander Koltun, 2368 Hollyridge Drive, Los Angeles 28, Calif. Continuation of application Ser. No. 140,395, Sept; 25, 1961. This application Feb. 18, 1964, Ser. No. 346,586 4 Claims. (Cl. 42-'59) This application is a continuation of an application for a Cartridge Revolver Safety Device, Serial No. 140,395, filed September 25, 1961, by this applicant, and now abandoned.

This invention relates to revolvers and, more particularly, to a device for improving the safety and strength of revolvers.

There are a considerable number of revolvers which have been manufactured wherein, when a cartridge is inserted into the firing chamber, the cartridge rim extends unsupported into a clearance space behind the cylinder. In the event of a normal firing of the cartridge, no difficulty occurs. However, it can happen that a cartridge case or primer can be defective, in which event its rim is shattered and flies out sidewards into the space. This can and does often cause injury to the person who has fired the gun, as well as to any bystander. Such injury occurs by reason of the shattered cartridge rim itself or bits of a ruptured primer acting as a projectile or operating to cause explosions of the other cartridges, wherein their rims are driven with explosive violence.

An object of this invention is to provide a removable structure for protecting the user of a gun of the type described against such mishaps.

Another object of this invention is the provision of a simple and unique safety attachment for converting a revolver which is not manufactured with this safety feature to one which has this safety feature.

Still another object of this invention is the provision of a removable structure for protecting against the results of cartridge defects which is inexpensive and simple to attach to a revolver.

These and other objects of the present invention may be achieved by providing a safety device which comprises a ring adapted to be removably secured to the breech end of the cylinder of the revolver, regardless of the presence or absence of cartridges. The ring, in cooperation with the firing plate and the breech end of the cylinder, forms a substantially complete enclosure for accommodating the heads, or rims of the cartridges. The ring may be formed from, or forming part of a disc having circular openings vwhich are disposed opposite the chambers in the cylinder of the revolver. These openings are large enough to permit the passage there through of the caliber of the cartridges which are used with this revolver. The disc is made thick enough to enclose the cartridge rims therein; The disc is then positioned by any suitable means to the cylinder, and the openings in the disc are positioned to be aligned with the openings in the cylinder. For revolvers of the swingout type, a means for removably positioning the disc is provided. For single-action gate-loading revolvers, the disc remains in position undisturbed, and no attaching mechanism is required. Cartridges may then be readily inserted into their proper chambers, and the rims of the cartridges are effectively prevented from blowing out in the event of a misfire and thus injuring the user of the gun or bystanders.

The novel features that are considered characteristic of this invention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention itself, both as to its organization and method of operation, as well as additional objects and advantages thereof, will best be under- United States Patent 3,191,333 Patented June 29, 1965 stood from the following description when read in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a view of a revolver which is shown to indicate the position at which the embodiment of the invention is inserted;

FIGURE 2 is a plan view of an embodiment of the invention which may be used with single-action revolvers;

FIGURE 3 is a plan view of an embodiment of the invention which may be used with simultaneous ejection revolvers;

FIGURE 4 is a side view of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 5 shows the appearance of the cylinder of a revolver with the embodiment of the invention and cartridges in place; and

FIGURE 6 is a view along the lines 66 of FIGURE 5.

Reference is now made to FIGURE 1 of the invention. This shows a revolver 2 which has a cylinder '4 in which there are chambers into which cartridges are inserted. There is a space 6 between the back of the cylinder and the frame 8 of the revolver. With a large number of presently em'sting revolvers, the rims of cartridges extend into this space, and, as previously pointed out, whenever a cartridge is fired, there is a potentially dangerous situation presented which does materialize. A defective cartridge case or primer causes cartridge-case separation rupture of the primer, whereby parts of the case or primer fly out sidewards with disastrous consequences.

Referring now to FIGURE 2, there may be seen an embodiment of the invention suitable for use with a singleaction type of revolver, where the simultaneous cartridgeejection feature is not present. This comprises a disc 10,

.having a central aperture 12, which is given a star shape to accommodate the ratchet gear projecting from a cylinder to enable it to be turned. A plurality of circular apertures 14A through 14F are disposed about the central aperture. Each of these circular apertures are positioned to be concentric with the chambers of thecylinder of the revolver. The size of these apertures is sufiicient to enable a cartridge to be inserted into the chamber therethrough. Each aperture surrounds and encloses the rim of a cartridge which would otherwise extend from the cylinder unsupported into the space 6. The thicknessof such disc is determined by the distance between the cylinder breech end and the firing plate, so that the cartridge rims are surrounded and enclosed and cannot escape sideways in the instance of the presence of a defective cartridge, such as results in cartridge rupture at the moment of firing. The diameter of the disc is determined by the diameter of the cylinder of the gun with which its use is intended.

This disc is held in place by the ratchet and cartridge rims and will not slip sidewards. The frame and cylinder prevent backwards and forwards slippage, respectively. The disc is readily removable from the revolver. This adds to the saleability of original revolvers, since they are thus unimpaired from an appearance standpoint from their original state and yet are capable, by this invention, of being modernized and being made safe for use. The disc should be made of material such as metal, which is strong enough not to shatter in the event of the occurrence referred to.

Reference is now made to FIGURE 3 of the drawings, which shows another embodiment of the invention which is suitable for use with double action, or simultaneous ejection revolvens. This comprises a disc 16 of a suitably strong material, such as metal. The diameter of this disc 16 is determined by the diameter of the back end of a cylinder of a revolver with which it is intended to be used. The thickness of the disc is governed by the existing clearances between the cylinder and frame of the revolver, to equal or slightly exceed the thickness of the rim of the cartridges which are to be enclosed. The disc 16 has circular openings MA through 18F therein which are spaced around the disc to be aligned with the openings in the cylinder of the revolver with which the disc is to be used. These circular openings etiectively are dimensioned so that when the disc is put in position on the back end of a revolver cylinder, the revolver cartridges can be inserted into the respective revolver chambers without interference from the disc. Effectively, when the disc is in place on a revolver and the cartridges of the revolver are inserted in the revolver chamber, the rims of the cartridges fit within the disc and are eifectively counter sunk therein. The cartridge rims tit within the circular convolutions 1 8A through 18F. The two basic patterns of this invention are necessary to accommodate for the difference in ejection systems, single versus double action. The central portion of this disc is cut away to aiford room for the plunger-like action of this type of revolver cartridge ejection system.

FIGURE 4 is a side view of FIGURE 3 and shows the holding means which are provided to hold the disc in place. This may include clips 20, 22, or as shown in FIG- URE 3 magnetic slugs 26, 28, embedded in the disc, or a stippled rim or any other suitable arrangement. In FIG- URE 3 there are also provided one or more scallop-like cutouts 30, 3 2, 34, which may be required to clear the cylinder stop lip on the gun frame adjacent the cylinder. Such clearance is necessary when the cylinder is swung out for ejection, loading, or installation of the invention.

FIGURE 5 is a .side, fragmentary view of the revolver, showing the embodiment of the invention in place. As described in connection with FIGURE 1, there is a region 40 between the cylinder 42 of a revolver and tire-plate or the back end 44 of the revolver-frame 18, to which the handle or grip is attached, as Well as the firing mechanism. Into this region the rims of the cartridges protrude. 'Should a cartridge rupture, the cartridge rim will be ejected sidewise with explosive force. This invention provides a safety devic or 16, which is inserted within the space 40. Means are provided when required, for holding the invention on the cylinder.

FIGURE 6 is a plan view along the lines 66 of FIG- URE 5, showing the appearance of the invention when in place and when cartridges 50 are inserted in the cylinder.

It is important to note that the thickness of the ring, or the disc should be sufficient for a full enclosure, recessing, or walling-in of the cartridge rims, which heretofore would be exposed freely and unprotected, whereby danger exists in the event of the rupture of the cartridge case or of a faulty primer. The thickness to which the disc can be machined is limited to that thickness which permits clearance for proper and efficient functioning of the revolver, since it is necessary for the cylinder to rot-ate after each cartridge is tired. These discs, or rings, can be pr-oduced in any size and may have their dimensions varied from gun to gun, from calibre to calibre, as well as from number of cartridges to number of cartridges. These variations are determined in accordance with the various makes, types, and models of revolvers or cylinder guns.

Accordingly, there has been described herein a novel, useful, protective device for a cylinder-type revolver. The seemingly simple device, when attached, can and does prevent serious harm from occurring to either the user of the revolver or any bystander in the event of the rim of a cartridge being explosively driven for any reason through the space normally provided to enable the cylinder of the revolver to be rotated. This invention is a removable attachment which, when not used, leaves a revolver unimpaired and of value to connoisseurs, and, when used, converts a revolver into the equivalent of those revolvers which, by a special construction at the factory, have these features built in.

I claim:

1. In combination, a revolver of the type having a cylinder, a firing plate spaced from an end of said cylinder by a clearance space, a plurality of chambers in said cylinder wherein cartridges may be inserted with their rims extending beyond said cylinder and into said clearance space between said end of said cylinder and said tfiring plate, and a safety device comprising a disc having openings through its entire thickness, said openings through said entire thickness being larger than said cartridge rims to permit said cartridge rims to be slidable through said openings in either direction, said disc being sufficiently thick to substantially enclose the cartridge rims between the walls of said openings, and means for securing said disc to said breech end of said cylinder, with said openings aligned with the chambers of said cylinder.

2. In combination, .a revolver of the type having a cylinder with a breech end, and a firing plate spaced from said breech end, and a protective device for said revolver comprising an annular disc of metal which is dimensioned to form a circular wall extending along the periphery of said cylinder breech end to substantially completely separate the clearance space between said cylinder and said firing plate of said revolver from outside space, said annular disc including openings formed therein which are sufficiently large to enable the complete passage of cart-ridges including their rims therethrough and to loosely accommodate the cartridge rims therein, and means for securing said anular disc to said breech end of the cylinder.

3. The combination of claim 2 wherein said securing means include holding clips which are secured to said disc for cooperation with the breech end of the cylinder.

4. The combination of claim 2 wherein said securing means include magnetic slugs provided in the disc.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,258,170 3/18 Wesson 42-89 1,326,721 'l 2/ l9 Glasser 4289 2,113,822 4/ 3 8 B arros 42-89 2,215,726 9/40 Smith 4-2-89 BENJAMIN A. BOROHELT, Primary Examiner. 

1. IN COMBINATION, A REVOLVER OF THE TYPE HAVING A CYLINDER, A FIRING PLATE SPACED FROM AN END OF SAID CYLINDER BY A CLEARANCE SPACE, A PLURALITY OF CHAMBERS IN SAID CYLINDER WHEREIN CARTRIDGES MAY BE INSERTED WITH THEIR RIMS EXTENDING BEYOND SAID CYLINDER AND INTO SAID CLEARANCE SPACE BETWEEN SAID END OF SAID CYLINDER AND SAID FIRING PLATE, AND A SAFETY DEVICE COMPRISING A DISC HAVING OPENINGS THROUGH ITS ENTIRE THICKNESS, SAID OPENINGS THROUGH SAID ENTIRE THICKNESS BEING LARGER THAN SAID CARTRIDGE RIMS TO PERMIT SAID CARTRIDGE RIMS TO BE SLIDABLE THROUGH SAID OPENINGS IN EITHER DIRECTION, SAID DISC BEING SUFFICIENTLY THICK TO SUBSTANTIALLY ENCLOSE THE CARTRIDGE RIMS BETWEEN THE WALLS OF SAID OPENINGS, AND MEANS FOR SECURING SAID DISC TO SAID BREECH END OF SAID CYLINDER, WITH SAID OPENINGS ALIGNED WITH THE CHAMBERS OF SAID CYLINDER. 